Home Visits Guidance Barnet Public Health 30th March 2020
To view the advice please click on the link below
2020.04.01. Covid_19 Advice to Staff visiting homes 30.03_JD
2020.04.01. Covid_19 Advice to Staff visiting homes 30.03_JD
The threat of COVID 19 both real and perceived is growing stronger every day especially amongst front line workers who are being asked to carry on a deliver services as normal.
But these are not normal times. We are in a global pandemic which is sweeping across the globe, some countries faster than others.
The response from workers in public services is incredible people are offering support to other services which are under serious pressure.
Once such service that needs to continue otherwise there will be another type of public health risk is the Waste and Recycling Service.
There can sometimes be 3 or 4 workers sitting inside a vehicle a clear contravention of the government advice on social distancing.
Earlier this week Barnet UNISON wrote to Barnet Council requesting urgent measures to be put in place to safeguard our member’s health and safety.
Our demands are as follows:
1. Cleaning regime.
The inside of the vehicles are subjected to thorough cleansing regime each day.
That Hand gel is provided for each team every day. Please note there are no toilets available for these staff to use therefore no access to water and soap.
Cleansing wipes to be provided to each team every day.
Gloves and masks to be provided to each team every day.
Provision of toilet facilities for the workforce
Procedure to change how they currently work to reflect government advice about social distancing.
2. Bonus/recognition payment
Workers have asked that the Council pay a bonus to the reflect the recognition of the work they are currently providing under difficult circumstances.
3. Mental Health
To increase awareness of counselling support for staff working on the frontline during this national crisis.
4. Food and supplies
It is well documented that access to supermarkets is proving problematic and for the key workers it will more difficult for them to access supermarkets as they are working. Barnet UNISON has asked Barnet Council look to secure means by which food and supplies can be provided on an order basis for key workers.
Cleansing
Hand sanitiser gel has been issued to the crews and drivers have a supply of hand wipes for them and the crew to use. Drivers can request more from the Supervisors once their supply has gone. Drivers are also being issued with cleansing wipes so that they are able to wipe down surfaces, handles and steering wheels in the cab. We have also progressed arrangements to implement a cleansing regime for vehicle cabs. Nitril gloves are currently also available on request for those who may wish to use them.
We have sourced resource that will be undertaking a deep cleanse of the RCV cabs on Saturday this week. Following this, we will have a team of four people working from Monday to clean the vehicle cabs. RCV’s will be cleaned on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings and Street Cleansing vehicles will be cleaned on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Payment.
No bonus payment will be paid to key workers.
Mental Health
Mental Health First Aiders to be made available for staff to contact and discuss their issues.
Food and Supplies
No.
End.
We are attending weekly skype meetings with Barnet Council every Wednesday morning.
If you have any questions or concerns email the branch at
You can keep up to date with Barnet UNISON here on our
Website here https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BarnetUNISON/
Twitter https://twitter.com/barnet_unison
TESCOs announced a few days ago that they are giving frontline staff a 10% bonus to recognise their invaluable effort to help feed the nation.
The majority of key workers being asked to go into work and face the risks of contracting COVID 19 are often the lowest paid workers such as:
In recognition of the risks they are taking every day whilst having to cope with the stress and anxiety of trying to cope at home with all the restrictions COVID 19 is bringing into their lives, Barnet UNISON has taken the following action:
Barnet UNISON have formally requested Barnet Council to adopt a similar bonus payment for key workers for the duration of this crisis.
The Council are considering our request.
Watch this space…………..
Please let the branch know what is going on with your employer by emailing
You can keep up to date with Barnet UNISON here on our
Website here https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BarnetUNISON/
Twitter https://twitter.com/barnet_unison
Dear Members
If you work in social care we want to make sure that you are being kept safe.
Below are links to Public Health England guidance for workers in Residential, Supported Living and Home Care.
Please read the information carefully. If you are not getting Personal Protective
Updated 19 March 2020
“Care home providers will routinely be procuring personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and aprons. In addition, there will be a free issue of PPE to support adult social care providers to support compliance with the updated advice. This will be issued from the pandemic influenza stockpile. Arrangements will be put in place for adult social care providers to access further PPE as necessary.”
Updated 19 March 2020
“Personal protective equipment
The risk of transmission should be minimised through safe working procedures. Care workers should use personal protective equipment for activities that bring them into close personal contact, such as washing and bathing, personal hygiene and contact with bodily fluids.
Aprons, gloves and fluid repellent surgical masks should be used in these situations.
In particular cases, if there is a risk of splashing then eye protection will minimise risk.
New personal protective equipment must be used for each episode of care. It is essential that personal protective equipment is stored securely within disposable rubbish bags.
These bags should be placed into another bag, tied securely and kept separate from other waste within the room. This should be put aside for at least 72 hours before being put in the usual household waste bin for disposal.”
Updated 19 March 2020
“Personal protective equipment
Care workers should use personal protective equipment (PPE) for activities that bring them into close personal contact, such as washing and bathing, personal hygiene and contact with bodily fluids.
Aprons, gloves and fluid repellent surgical masks should be used in these situations. If there is a risk of splashing, then eye protection will minimise risk.
New personal protective equipment must be used for each episode of care. It is essential that personal protective equipment is stored securely within disposable rubbish bags.
These bags should be placed into another bag, tied securely and kept separate from other waste within the room. This should be put aside for at least 72 hours before being put in the usual household waste bin.”
written by Flower Samuels Barnet UNISON member.
Norse won the Barnet Council Cleaning contract last year. They provide cleaning services in many schools and Council buildings including the new £55 million new Colindale office.
Barnet Council quite rightly have recognised the need to increase the cleaning regime in Council buildings and schools in order to try to slow down the spread of the Coronavirus amongst staff and the public.
However the main risk identified by Barnet UNISON was that the cleaners do not receive sick pay and many are on zero hours contracts. This means it is highly likely that any cleaners exhibiting symptoms of the virus will still attend work as they could not afford to lose pay.
Barnet UNISON asked the Council to make contact with Norse to ask if they will ensure all staff will receive full pay if they need to self-isolate or exhibit symptoms of the virus. To date the Council has not had a reply.
Today, Monday 16 March 2020 Barnet UNISON has written to Norse asking them for clarification about sick pay for their staff working on the Council corporate cleaning contract.
We will report their response as soon as we have had a response.
Earlier this year Barnet UNISON submitted 52 collective grievances on behalf of our members working in 52 Barnet Schools.
What is this about?
It is about the calculation used to ensure that part-time workers are not being discriminated in relation to their pay.
UNISON believes that this contract term is unfair and inherently discriminatory. We believe that this contract term results term time only workers receiving less than their pro-rata leave entitlement compared to their full time equivalent (FTE) colleagues.
UNISON believes that this contract treats part time workers less favourably than full time staff and is therefore discriminatory. We also believe that the approach is potentially discriminatory on sex grounds as the workers affected are overwhelmingly female.
UNISON is seeking a recalculation of the pay and leave of these staff and a payment of back pay of any historical underpayment from their date of appointment.
We would also seek a recalculation of any pension entitlement under the LGPS resulting from any underpayment or understatement of pensionable service.
What are we doing now?
We are now busy arranging meetings in these schools to explain the reason for the claim for backdated pay and a payment for underpayment of their Pension. Only one of the Schools is a Barnet Schools the rest are Academies/Foundation Schools.
We are beginning to lodge our legal claim against the Schools in order to protect our members claims.
What about Barnet Council Schools?
As news spreads about our campaign, our members working in Barnet Council Schools are asking about their claims.
Our members were never informed by Barnet Council that they were being paid incorrectly and that they had a claim for back pay and a payment towards the underpayment of their Pension. Our members are angry to hear they have not been paid correctly and are demanding that Barnet Council pay up.
Today, Barnet UNISON has written to Barnet Council seeking a meeting to discuss our claim on behalf of our members. We are calling on Barnet Council to do the right thing and reach a collective agreement which will address the backdating and the underpayment of the Pension.
This is a massive issue for our members and we are continuing to keep all of our members briefed as to their rights at work.
If you are on a Term Time Pay contract and worried if you are being correctly paid please contact the branch on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
More to follow…….
End.
Barnet UNISON is hosting drop-in sessions for our members working in schools which have Term Time Pay issues.
Drop-in sessions will take place on
Drop-in sessions are held at the Barnet UNISON office, Barnet House, 1255 High Road, Whetstone, London N20 0EJ
Members please note you will need the following information.
Your monthly take home pay figures, payroll number which is on your pay slip, your membership number.
End.